IAC Collegiate Program Alumnus Returns to Competition
By Zinnia Kilkenny IAC 437244
ZK: From where did your inspiration to fly come?
TR: Aviation has been in my family since before I was born. My dad purchased a Cessna 120 after he came home from serving in the Vietnam War. He still owns it; it is the one he taught me to fly in. I believe my first airplane ride was when I was nine months old, and as long as I remember, my dad and I would fly around and attend pancake breakfasts and airshows. I can remember stacking pillows under me to see out the window.
Additionally, I grew up about a two-hour drive south of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, so our annual family vacation was attending Oshkosh and camping out for a week. It was from these early days that I was inspired to fly, and it just became a passion.
ZK: How did you become acquainted with the IAC’s Collegiate program?
TR: I attended Southern Illinois University of Carbondale (SIU) and majored in Aviation Technologies (A&P program). In my freshman year, there were a couple of other guys a year ahead of me that were competing in aerobatic contests. One had a Pitts S-2C, and the other had a Super Decathlon. I became friends with them and finally asked the Decathlon owner's son if he would take me for an aerobatic ride. He finally agreed, and we went flying. He sat in the back, and I was in the front; he demonstrated a loop and then let me try a loop; he then demonstrated an aileron roll and let me try one. I was absolutely hooked immediately and couldn’t get enough of aerobatics.
I quickly became obsessed and started competing in Primary in 2003, moved up to Sportsman in 2004, and earned second place at the U.S. National Aerobatic Championships. I won first place Individual in the collegiate program in 2005. Our team, comprised of all A&P students, also did exceptionally well, earning the top collegiate program for several years in a row while I attended SIU.
ZK: Was your intention of bringing a Pitts S-1S down to the fuselage the pride of home-building or the ultimate goal of competition?
TR: After graduating college, I still had the competition bug and knew it would be a lifelong passion. Hence, the search for my next airplane commenced since I no longer had access to the Super Decathlon. I found a pretty neglected Pitts S-1E in Oklahoma with an old run-out Lycoming O-320 for super cheap. Since I was brand new in my career, I didn’t really have any money and was only making about $12.50/hr, but I just had to continue aerobatics, so I took a chance and bought it. I wasn’t checked out to fly it, so I had the prior owner fly it up to my airport.
I went to Kansas City for a Pitts checkout with John Morrissey in his S-2A.
I flew the PItts S-1E in Intermediate for a couple of years and quickly realized that I needed more airplane with better performance to match my needs for competition and going up the categories, so I ended up selling that airplane and started the search for the next one. I looked at several air frame types to determine the best dollar for the performance capable of flying in the Advanced category. This was important because I still wasn’t making much money and couldn't afford a $100K-plus plane.
I looked at several One Designs, Yak 55’s, and modified Pitts Specials. I found a Pitts in Texas that Jason Newburg owned and raced at Reno. It was pretty rough but had a good engine and a few other desirable modifications. What I saw was a basis for building the airplane I dreamed about. We struck a deal, I brought it home, and I disassembled it down to the frame before ever flying it.
I acquired some plans for the Raven S1 tail surfaces and built all-new elevators and horizontal stabilizers. I re-designed the vertical stabilizer and rudder of my design and size. I started with a clean slate and completely re-did all the electrical wiring and fluid plumbing. Built all-new sheet metal for the forward fuselage and re-shaped all of the fuselage stringers to get rid of the round football shape to help make the airplane easier to judge in the aerobatic box. I bought a new Ultimate biplane cowling and fit that into the plane. I installed the newer style “Wolf” rod landing gear and wheel pants. On the wings, I installed plywood leading edges, boxed in the I-strut bays, and completely re-rigged and overhauled every moving part with new. Once I got the air frame where I wanted it, I started the fabric covering process and finally paint.
I’m also grateful for my friends who helped me re-build/build my airplane. Without their help, the Pitts likely wouldn’t have been finished. It took me 10 years to finish the airplane. In the meantime, I was extremely fortunate that a couple of my friends loaned me their planes so I could continue competing.
I purpose-built my Pitts to compete in Advanced. I started flying it in November of 2019, and my first competition season with it was in 2021; I attended the U.S. Nationals and ranked 3rd with it in my first season. I’m looking forward to eventually qualifying and competing on the Advanced Aerobatic Team with it.
ZK: Motivating and seasoned mentorship are some of the many rewards in aerobatics. What do you want your contribution and legacy to be?
TR: To be known for constantly pushing myself to be the best I can be and highly competitive in airplanes that are thought to be less than optimal from a performance standpoint, showing that it’s not all about how much money can be spent to get the latest and greatest airplane, but with hard work and determination, you can build something and compete at a high level without spending the big bucks. I also wouldn’t be where I am without help, and I would like to give back to young pilots getting started in aerobatics and help them achieve their goals.
The IAC Collegiate Program
The purpose of the program and awards is to increase the flying safety and interest level of collegiate pilots in aerobatics, aerobatic competition, and the International Aerobatic Club. Additionally, this program is intended to be a springboard for competitors to continue their pursuit of competition aerobatics upon leaving the collegiate environment. Two awards exist, which serve to recognize skill and proficiency for the Collegiate aerobatic competitor:
- Collegiate National Championship Team Award
- Individual Collegiate National Champion Award
Safety is always first and foremost in priority. Second is the inclusion of as many college age student competitors as possible. It is the intent of this program to sharpen pilot skills in the categories where they can be the most rewarded in terms of pilot ability and collegiate recognition. Rules are intended to encourage as many students as possible to participate and for those students to safely fly in as many competitions as their schedules permit while recognizing the aerobatic achievements of the competitors. Safety pilots are encouraged as permitted by the IAC rules. Only the scores of the highest contests and individuals are used. Students are eligible for contests flown in the season before beginning college and the season following graduation within that calendar year.
To participate in the team program participants must be full-time undergraduate students who are enrolled in the same accredited college, junior college, or vocational program such as an FAA-approved Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Mechanic program. To compete as an individual, a competitor may be the sole pilot from their school.
In the first year of the collegiate program Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois; and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Florida were the two participating schools. As the years progressed other pilots from various colleges came onboard. Participating schools have been University of Ontario, University of North Dakota, Chapman University, Kansas State University, USAF Academy, Texas State University, University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, Purdue University, Ventura College, Metropolitan State University at Denver, and University of Arkansas, Fort Smith.
